Believe

I believe that You created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…all things, created by You and for You. You are before all things and in You, all things hold together.

Yes, You hold all things together.

I walk outside and the heavens declare Your glory…it’s Your handiwork that awes me. Your light that guides me by day and by night. I cannot escape Your sight, for You hem me in…behind and before, when I sit and when I rise, when I go out or I lie down, You know it. And You are there.

You will never leave me or forsake me.

I am so small and You are so big…in this, I find comfort. When I don’t understand, when I don’t know where this is all going — You do. Your thoughts are higher than mine. Your ways are above me. Not a thing is hidden from You, not one moment on earth passes by without Your knowing. There is a plan and there is a purpose, and so I place my trust in You to fulfill it. I don’t know how and I don’t know when and I don’t know why–but You do.

You will keep in perfect peace; him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. I will trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal…Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

Yes, I believe that You are the Holy God, the Almighty and faithful Father who was there in the beginning, will be there in the end, and is with us every single step in between. I believe that there is none other like You and that all power is Yours, all power and glory and might. I believe that You are able to do more than we can dream of, more than we can think to ask, more than we know is possible. I believe that Your grace is sufficient, Your strength is our solace, and Your presence is our refuge.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding none can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak!

I believe in Who You are. Holy and Good and Righteous in all Your ways. I believe that You are love. Love that never fails. Love that has no end. Love that endures forever and ever. Love that is perfect. Love that casts out all fear. And this is why I know that Your plans, they are for our good. They are to give us a future and a hope. You will hold us up, because we are Your children and You long to draw us close to You…and in drawing us close, we have what we need because we have You.

I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with righteous right hand…For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, O little Israel, for I myself will help you, declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel…

I believe You are the Savior, the Messiah, Emmanuel. I believe You suffered, I believe You died, I believe You rose again. And in this is the Great Victory, the salvation of our hearts, the hope of our forever. I believe that, at the sound of Your name, things change. You change things. You deliver us from sin. You restore what has been lost. You destroy death. You bring peace. You heal. You sacrificed Your body to make us whole…You shed Your blood to redeem. You bring life from death and there is nothing, nothing, nothing impossible for You. Yes, I believe in the power of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God!

I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground in to springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done that, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

I will stand tall and I will not be dismayed. I will call upon Your name and the enemy will flee. I will thank You through my tears and I will thank You when they’re over. I will cast my cares upon You. I will wait on You and I will be of good courage. I will be still and know that You are God.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am He. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?

This I will believe: You are my God and so my future is yes with You. You, who hold all things together…You hold us together and I will believe in Your report. I will believe in Victory. Life abundant. Joy unspeakable. I believe in You.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland!